Weekly Update: Union

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. – The Revolution (1-3-2, 5 pts.) makes its first appearance at Gillette Stadium in four weeks when the team hosts the Philadelphia Union (3-2-2, 11 pts.) on Saturday, April 27.

Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. ET. Comcast SportsNet will televise the game live, while 98.5 The Sports Hub will have the game on the radio on its HD2 channel.

Saturday’s game will have special meaning for many in attendance and watching at home. It will be the Revs’ first home game since the tragic events at the Boston Marathon last week. Additionally, it’s the team’s Autism Awareness game in partnership with Autism Speaks. Finally, Saturday’s match will be the club’s first at home since defender Kevin Alston announced he has been diagnosed with a rare, but treatable, form of leukemia.

A full announcement of all activities planned around Saturday’s game will be released later this week.

THIS WEEK’S TOP TWEETS

Thanks to all who travelled to New Jersey for the game. Provided a great atmosphere and we felt supported.

The Revolution will support Autism Awareness Month in partnership with Autism Speaks, Saturday, April 27, when the team presents its first-ever Autism Awareness game at Gillette Stadium against the Philadelphia Union at 7:30 p.m. … highlighted activities of the night will include local performer and Autism awareness advocate Gianna Hitsos performing the national anthem, a representative of Autism Speaks serving as honorary captain during the pregame coin toss and Autism Speaks tables set up at the stadium with information about their awareness, fundraising, science and advocacy efforts … for more information on how you can support Autism Speaks, visit autismspeaks.org.

Revs return home after almost a month away

Saturday’s match against Philadelphia marks the first – and only - time the Revs play a home game in the month of April … the last time the Revs played inside Gillette Stadium on March 30, Blas Perez of FC Dallas notched the game’s only goal in the 87th minute to give the visitors a 1-0 win … the Revs have played two games so far in April, both on the road … on April 13, the Revs played to a 0-0 draw in Seattle and lost, 4-1, at New York last Saturday, April 20 … the Revs are currently 0-1-1 at home this season with the draw coming via an 0-0 result against Sporting Kansas City on March 23.

Scoreless streak snapped

Red Bulls defender Brandon Barklage’s own goal in the sixth minute on Saturday night snapped the Revs’ club-record 394-minute scoreless streak that extended from the first game of the regular season … Lee Nguyen’s in-swinging free kick in the sixth minute deflected off the New York defender, and beat goalkeeper Luis Robles … It was the Revs’ first goal since a Jerry Bengston game-winning goal against Chicago in the team’s season opener on March 9.

Second crack at Union

On Saturday April 27, the Revs and Union will square off in the second of three regular season matches in 2013 … in the teams’ first meeting on March 16, Union forward Jack McInerney gave Philly a 1-0 win at PPL Park with his 76th-minute goal … Bobby Shuttleworth made three saves in the loss … the teams will play the third and final regular season match on August 25 at Gillette Stadium

Still seeking first W against Union

The Revolution are still seeking the club’s first-ever win against Philadelphia … in eight previous meetings between the two clubs, the Revs have gone 0-5-3 and have yet to earn three points against the Union … Philly remains as the only MLS club against whom the Revs have never recorded a win.

Jack the knife

While the Revs have struggled to find success against Philadelphia, the team’s most recent issues can be focused on Philadelphia forward Jack McInerney … McInerney has made six appearances against the Revs and has scored four goals, including three game-winning goals … he has scored Philadelphia’s last three game-winning goals in one-goal wins against New England dating back to July 29, 2012, including the lone goal in the Union’s 1-0 win on March 16 at PPL Park earlier this season.

League-leading defense no more

Although the Revs surrendered four goals in New York last Saturday, the team has still allowed just six goals in six games this season … the Revs are now tied with Columbus and Colorado for seventh in the league in GAA (1.00).

Tierney dons captain’s armband

Last Saturday’s match against New York marked the first time in his career that Chris Tierney served as the Revolution’s team captain for an MLS regular-season game … the Wellesley, Mass., native and sixth-year MLS pro had previously been the team’s captain for U.S. Open Cup matches and MLS Reserve League matches.

Coaching Development Night announced

As the spring soccer season gets underway, the region’s top youth soccer coaches have a new opportunity to hone their coaching skills when the New England Revolution present the Revolution Coaching Development Night on Tuesday, May 14, at Gillette Stadium … head coach Jay Heaps and his staff, along with the Revolution Academy youth teams’ technical staff, will be part of a special free coaching education night at Gillette Stadium that will run from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. … coaches interested in attending the free Revolution Coaching Development Night must RSVP before Friday, May 10 … further information about the evening, including an RSVP link, can be found at revolutionsoccer.net/coachnight, or by calling 1-877-GET-REVS.

THIS WEEK IN ROCHESTER

The Revs currently have four players on loan to the Rochester Rhinos as part of the teams’ affiliation agreement: defender Bilal Duckett, midfielder Gabe Latigue, forward Matt Horth and defender Tyler Polak.

On Friday, April 19, the Rhinos played to 0-0 draw on the road against the Charlotte Eagles, then lost 4-1 to the Richmond Kickers on Saturday, April 20

Duckett, Latigue and Polak have appeared in all four games, while Horth has made three appearances

Horth made his first start of the 2013 USL PRO season against Charlotte on April 19

The Rhinos return to action on the road at the Harrisburg City Islanders on Saturday, April 27

SATURDAY’S OPPONENT & SERIES INFORMATION

Revolution vs. Philadelphia (regular season) 0-5-3

Home: 0-2-1

Away: 0-3-2

TEAM NOTES AGAINST PHILADELPHIA

Philadelphia holds a 5-0-3 lead in the all-time series between the two clubs, dating back to the first meeting in 2010

The Revs are 0-2-1 all-time at Gillette Stadium against the Union … Philadelphia won the first two meetings between the clubs before the teams played to a 0-0 draw on Sept. 1, 2012

Saturday’s match is the second of three meetings this season … Philadelphia won the first meeting, 1-0, on March 16 ... the third game will be played at Gillette Stadium on Sunday, August 25

The Union has won the regular-season series between the two clubs in each of its first three seasons: 2010, 2011 and 2012

Six of the eight meetings have been decided by goals in the 70th minute or later … the first meeting on July 31, 2010, at PPL Park, the Revs used Marko Perovic’s 71st minute goal to equalize and secure a 1-1 draw … Union goals in the 82nd and 92nd minutes equalized, and then sealed a win, respectively, on August 28, 2010, at Gillette Stadium … Philadelphia stormed back with 80th and 91st minute goals to force a 4-4 draw on Sept. 7, 2011 … Union forward Jack McInterney has provided the game-winners in each of their last three wins: a 90th-minute goal on July 29, 2012, at PPL Park, a 73rd-minute goal on Oct. 6, 2012 and a 76th minute goal on March 16, 2013

The Revolution was the first team to earn a draw at PPL Park … Philadelphia was 2-1-0 at its new facility heading into the July 31, 2010 meeting with New England

PLAYER NOTES AGAINST PHILADELPHIA

Chad Barrett, despite not playing a game against Philly for New England, is the team’s leading scorer with two goals against the Union … his first goal came as a member of Toronto FC in 2010, while he added a second in 2012 as a member of the LA Galaxy

Saer Sene has one goal in one career appearance against Philadelphia … Sene’s blast on July 29, 2012, earned him MLS goal of the week honors

A.J. Soares is the only other current Revolution player who has scored goal against Philadelphia … he scored in the 4-4 draw at PPL Park on Sept. 7, 2011

Chris Tierney has two career assists against Philadelphia, recording both on Sept. 7, 2011, in a 4-4 draw at PPL Park

Only one other active player has factored in scoring against Philadelphia: Kelyn Rowe earned the assist on Saer Sene’s goal at PPL Park on July 29, 2012

Matt Reis is 0-2-3 in five starts against Philadelphia and has recorded 23 saves against Philly in five meetings … Reis recorded his only career shutout against the Union when the teams last met on Sept. 1, 2012

Bobby Shuttleworth has made two starts against Philly, going 0-2-0 – including a 1-0 loss earlier this year on March 16 – with a 1.50 goals against average

REVOLUTION ACADEMY UPDATE

Youth teams see mixed results on the road

All three of the Revolution Academy’s youth teams were on the road last week, going 1-2-0 against the New York Red Bulls in Newark, N.J. … the Under-14s suffered a 3-0 loss against New York on Saturday, April 20 … on Sunday, April 21, the Under-18s earned a hard-fought 4-2 victory, before the Under-16s suffered a 1-0 loss … for more information about the youth teams, or to schedule interviews, contact Missy Wade.

Season to-date records

Heading into this weekend’s games, the Under-18s are 11-3-2 (35 pts.) overall and rank second in the Northeast Division of the U.S. Soccer Development Academy’s East Conference based on points per game … the Under-16s hold a 9-3-4 record (31 pts.) and are currently in fourth place in the division … the Under-14s are now 9-3-0 (27 pts.), which is good for fifth in U.S. Club Soccer’s Northeast Pre-Academy League based on points per game.

Summer Player Development Programs enrolling

The Revolution Academy’s Player Development Programs are now enrolling for summer sessions, with locations all over New England … the Revolution Academy trains players of all abilities in all aspect of the game, including ball mastery, speed of play, coordination and balance and movement with and without the ball … the objective of all the training programs is to replicate the speed, tempo and environment of the Revolution Youth Teams’ training sessions … through the age-appropriate player development sessions, the Revolution Academy fosters an atmosphere that is competitive, challenging, demanding and fun … encouragement and support from the professional coaching staff allows every player to gain a better understanding of – and continued passion for – the game … more information, including the full spring and summer schedule, is available HERE